Religion Today

A Sufi:-

Regarding your article on Sufism:-

You are certainly correct that Sufism is not always Sufism! When a Muslim talks about Sufism, he must use the word to mean what it has always meant as a component of orthodox Islam.

Sufism, properly called, in Arabic, tasawwuf, is the path of self-purification of the "heart" (or nafs) and the improvement of character and behaviour in order to reach the station of those who worship Allah as if they see him. There is no justification for denigrating or condemning the true sufic path.

Comment:-

We are posting to a site which is read by all kinds of people, not only Muslims. And even among Muslims there are people hostile to Sufism. They probably have come across charlatans and imitators. I repeat: The purpose of my article was to caution against deception by names.

I know what the aims of tasawwuf are and I also know some of their methods and I have had associations with Sufis. But you and others are reading into my article what was not there. This is what is known as a "knee jerk" reaction - i.e. Level 1 in my article on Words.

So let this be a clarification of my position:- I am not attacking genuine Sufism. But Islam consists of Shariat, Tarqat and Haqiqat. As The Prophet (saw) is reported to have told us that the religion he brought consisted of al-islm, al-iman and al-ihsan. He is also reported to have said:- "The Shariat is what I instruct; the Tariqat is what I do and the Haqiqat is what I am." Note that these correspond to the three forms of knowledge.

A Hypocrite:-

It is amusing how some ignorant Muslims make all kinds of naive assertions. What do they know about Sufis, these cold traditional Mullahs who view Allah only as a stern Master. What do they know about the ways of love when all they ever know is SUBMISSION.

Comment:-

It is not so much amusing as saddening to see the things some critics assume even against evidence and without understanding! Where did he get the idea that the one he criticises is a "Mullah"? Or that he does not know Sufis and Sufism? If he knows the Quran then he also knows that Allah is Compassionate, Merciful and Forgiving and that Charity and Benevolence are also obligations for Muslims.

The critic does not appear to know much about the Quran, not even that Islam IS Submission or what that implies! Let a Mullah enlighten you:-

Surrender means that we should obey the instructions of Allah as contained in His word, the Quran, and that we should act according to the Spirit of Allah within us, and these are represented by His Attributes, which consist among other things Justice, Compassion, Truth and Power.

Here are some verses that should be studied:-

"The Messenger believes in what is sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each believes in Allah, and His angels, and His Scriptures, and His Messengers, - We make no distinction between any of His Messengers - and they say: We hear and we obey, Thy pardon, O Lord! For to Unto Thee is our journeying." 2:285

"Therefore, keep your duty to Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend, it is better for your souls; and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful." 64:16

"And when Abraham raised up the foundations of the House with Ishmael, (with this prayer) "Lord! Receive it from us, verily, you are All-Hearing and All-Knowing. Lord! Make us Muslims (submissive) unto Thee, and of our seed also a nation of Muslims (resigned), bowing to Thy will, and show us our rites, and turn towards us, verily, Thou art the Oft-Relenting, the Most Merciful." 2:127-128

"The dwellers of the desert (or desert Arabs) say: We believe. Say: You believe not, but rather say: We submit; for faith has not yet entered into your heart; and if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Only they are the believers who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then afterwards they doubt not and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful (sincere or righteous) ones." 49:14-15

"Some of us are those who have Surrendered (to Allah), and some of us are deviators. Those who have Surrender have surely taken the right path purposefully." 72:14

"Say you: We believe in Allah, and what has been revealed to us, and what has been revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was brought to Moses and Jesus, and what was brought unto the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any one of them, and unto Him have we surrendered." 2:136

"And if they dispute with you, then say: I have surrendered my whole self unto Allah, and so have those who follows me. And say to those who have been given the Book, and unto the unlearned (or unread or Gentiles): Have ye, too, surrendered? And if they surrender, then are they truly guided. But if they turn their backs, then your duty is only to convey the message unto them. Allah is Seer of His servants." 3:20

"And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, He said: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah, so bear you witness that we have surrendered (unto Him)." 3:52

"Say: O you people of the Book, come to an agreement between us and you, that we will not serve other than Allah, nor associate aught with him, nor take others for Lords rather than Allah. But if they turn away then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered." 3:64

"O you who believe! Observe your duty to (or fear or respect) Allah with the right observance (or with the fear or respect that He deserves), and die not save as those who have surrendered (in a state of Islam)." 3:102

"And when I inspired the Disciples (of Jesus) that they should believe in Me and in My Messenger, they said: We believe; do you bear witness that we have Surrendered." 5:111

"Do you take vengeance on us because we believe in the signs of our Lord, when they come to us. Our Lord! Pour out upon us patience and constancy, and take us to Thyself as men who have surrendered (become Muslims)." 7:126

"Say: The Holy Spirit brought it down from your Lord in truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and for a guidance and glad tidings to those who have Surrendered unto Allah (Muslims)." 16:102

And also see 10:73, 85 11:14 12:101 16:89 27:42,81 43:69 51:36 68:35 72:14.

It seems Muslims have to struggle not only against hostile non-Muslims but also, owing to sectarianism, against each other, and against apostates and hypocrites, and those in their midst who wish to pick and choose what they want to accept or reject in the Quran according to whim. This includes those who wish to abandon parts of the Quran that mention obedience to the Prophet, and those who want to ignore the parts of the Quran that mention Love, while others want to ignore Justice or Truth. Others wish to abandon the Law and Shariah. And now we see that some who claim to be Muslim wish to abandon Submission (Islam) altogether and follow what they or some one else makes up.

But self-righteousness creates blindness.

Even the ignorant Mullahs whom he denounces appear to have much greater knowledge, understanding and sincerity than he, judging from his remarks over the year.

Note what the Quran says:-

"Do you then believe in part of the Book and reject the rest? But the reward of such among you as do that shall be naught else but disgrace in this worldly life, and on the day of Judgment shall they be driven to the most grievous torment, for Allah is not unmindful of what you do." 2:85

"And those to whom We brought the Book rejoice in that which We have sent down to you; but among the clans (sects, parties, sections) are some who deny a part thereof. Say, "I am only bidden to serve Allah and not to associate partners with Him; Unto Him do I call and unto Him is my return." 13:36

"Wherefore judge you between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their lusts (prejudices, fantasies, superstitions); but beware lest they mislead you from part of what Allah has revealed to you ; and if they turn back, then know that Allah wishes to smite them for some sins of theirs. Verily, many men are rebellious (evil doers)." 5:49

I am surprised at the adverse reactions to the article on Sufism. There appears to be much "averting of eyes and burying of heads".

The understanding and practice of Islam as that of all other religions has certainly deteriorated. I know, as do many Muslims, that Islam today is not like it was when the Prophet (saw) established the Islamic way of life in Medina. It was a community established on spiritual principles, dealing with both inner states and outer behaviour and with social and environmental matters.

We know that later the rules and guidelines contained in the Quran and Hadith were codified into a Law. But though this Law included religious practices it was not itself concerned with inner spiritual states. We also know that several Philosophical/theological movements arose in later years. But these had little to do with either spiritual development or with the administration of Law. We also know that the spiritual aspect of Islam separated out to form Sufism. But Sufism did not establish or run a State or formulate and administer the Law or a Philosophical/Theological system. We also know that Sufism has dead-end branches and that there are imitators and charlatans who have followers in Islam. There are some bizarre practices associated with them.

Here are some predictions by the Prophet (saw):-

"The best of my people are in my generation, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. After them will be people who give testimony without being asked, who will be treacherous and not to be trusted, who will make vows which they do not fulfil; among whom fatness will appear."

"A time is soon coming to mankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only the written form of the Quran will remain. Their mosques will be in fine condition but will be devoid of guidance; their learned men will be the worst of people under heaven; corruption coming forth from them and returning among them."

Ziyad asked the Prophet: How can knowledge depart when we recite the Quran and teach it to our children and they will teach it to their children up till the day of resurrection?. The Prophet replied: I am astonished at you Ziyad. I thought you were the most learned man in Medina. Do not these Jews and Christians read the Torah and the Bible without knowing a thing about their contents?"

"This religion began with a few in number and will return to the state in which it began. Blessed are the few, for they will set right the corruptions caused in my Sunna by the people after my death."

"The Bani Israel divided into 72 sects, but my people will divide into 73 sects, all of which but one will go to hell....And folk will come forth from among my people in whom passions will run as does hydrophobia in one who suffers from it, permeating every vein and joint."

"No people have gone astray after following right guidance unless they have been led into disputation."

"Disputation about the Quran is infidelity. It was just on this account that your predecessors perished. They set parts of God's Book against others whereas God's Books were sent down only to be consistent. So do not use parts to falsify others. Speak about as much of it as you know, but where you are ignorant entrust it to him who knows."

"When the sword is used among my people it will not be withdrawn from them till the day of resurrection; and the Last Hour will not come before the tribes of my people attach themselves to the polytheists and the tribes of my people worship idols. There will be among my people thirty Great Liars each of them asserting that he is God's Prophet, whereas I am the Seal of the Prophets after whom there will be no prophets. But a section of my people will continue to hold the truth till God's Command comes and will prevail and will not be injured by those who oppose them."

And here is what the Quran tells us:-

"And you shall be sorted into three classes. First the companions of the right hand - what will be the companions of the right hand? And then the companions of the left hand - what will be the companions of the left hand? And those foremost (in faith) will be the foremost (in the Hereafter). These are they who are drawn nigh (to Allah) in the Gardens of Bliss, a multitude of those of old, and a few of those of later times." 56:7-14

"Systems have passed away before you. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequences for those who did deny the messengers." 3:137

"If He will, He can remove you, O people, and produce others in your stead." 4:133

"For every announcement there is a term, and you will come to know. When you see those who plunge deeply into vain discussion of Our Signs (revelations), turn away from them until they discuss another topic. It may be that Satan makes you forget, but sit not, after you have remembered, with the congregation of the faithless, those who fear (or avoid) evil are not accountable for them at all, but remind them (or give them the Reminder)that per chance they may learn to fear (Allah).6:67-69

"..Verily, Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their heart (or in their souls or change it for themselves). And when Allah wishes misfortune for a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector beside Him." 13:11

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